╭( ) That's how you destroy the world!
Deeper inside the ruins of the ancient royal tomb, the air grew colder and damper. Alongside the smells of dust and decay, the presence of an ancient magic gradually filled the air. That proved what sort of things were lurking in here.
Ahead, in a vast stone chamber, the walls were covered in incomplete magical runes that had long since been lost to history. Dim light seeped through the cracks in the stone, barely illuminating the empty space, which had lain silent for who knew how many years.
At that moment, Annie, Frieren, Fern, and Elaina had just entered the unusually spacious chamber, followed by the examiner, Sense, who trailed them like a shadow. Their footsteps made faint echoes in the immense, empty room.
In the center of the chamber stood several grotesque statues, like demons frozen in stone. They stood silently atop two rows of stone pedestals, coated in thick dust, as if they were nothing more than harmless ancient decorations.
"!!"
"?!"
However, the experienced Frieren and Fern both narrowed their eyes the moment they entered the chamber and saw them.
"Gargoyles!"
Fern said in a low, urgent voice, certain of her diagnosis.
There was no need to hesitate or think it over. The best way to deal with magical constructs that suddenly awakened and attacked when a living creature approached was to destroy them before they could activate!
Fern reacted in a flash!
The short Scepter Annie had made for her appeared in her hand. Fern drew a deep breath, her mana surging as the tip of the Scepter shone with the cleansing blue-white light characteristic of "demon-slaying magic," which was especially effective against magical constructs.
Whoosh—!
Whoosh—! Whoosh—! Whoosh—!
Whoosh—!
In an instant, several concentrated beams of pale